Headlight focusing device



cl E I HEKDLIGHT FOCUSING DEVICE- APPLICATION FILED DEC- I5; 1920- Patented Maya 1922.

llirilllll JNVENTOR.

CHARLES E. GODLEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO EDMUNDS & JONES CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' HEADLIGHT rooosfne DEVICE.

\ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2,1922.

Application filed December 15, 1920. Serial No. 430,957.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. GODLEY, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michi an, have invented a new and Improved eadlight Focusing Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for adjustably supporting the light bulbs in automobile headlights and similar lamps provided with reflectors, and its object is to provide a device of this character which may be shifted laterally and longitudinally of the focal axis of the reflector in order to bring the incandescent light filament to the desired point in the lamp.

The light bulbs of commerce are of many different lengths and the active or illuminating ortions of the filaments are not only at different distances from the bases of the bulbs but are also very often at one side of the central lines of the bases. It is, therefore, necessary to provide a mounting for the bulb whereby the active portion of the filament may be moved transversely of the axes of the reflectors of the lamp and may also be moved longitudinally of the axes of the reflectors, as may be found necessary, to bring the active portions of the filaments to the foci of the reflectors when concentrated beams are desired or to shift such Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. I

The cup-Shapedlamp body 1, shown in Fig. 1, has a central flat portion 2 having an aperture 3 through which the connector sleeve 4 extends. This connector may be of any desired construction, a common form being that shown in the Knaufl Patent No. 1,059,617, dated April 22, 1913, although any other desired type for either single or two wire systems may be employed. A plug 5 in one end of this'connector supports the cable 6 while the light bulb 7 at the opposite end has a base 8 and its filament has an active portion 9.

Within the body is a reflectorlO having a central aperture ll to permit lateral movement of the connector. Two plates 13 and 14 are drawn toward each other and against the flat portion 2 of the lamp body by the screws 15 which pass through holes 16 in the flat portion 2' of the lamp body, these holes being of such size that the plates may be moved laterally considerable distances. The plate 14 has a hub 17 into which is secured a tightly wound coil spring 18 whose internal diameter permits the con- -nector 4 to slide freely. The connector has one or more pins 20 extending radially and adapted to slide between the coils of the spring 18, being gripped thereby, and the connector is thereby normally held from turning.

When the connector is turned, which may be done by the plug 5 or by a-tool placed in the slots 22 in the outer end of this.

after the screws 15 are slacked up, the

screws being tightened after the bulb has been positioned. It may sometimes be desirable to shift the active portion of the filament laterally to carry it from the focus of the reflector in order to obtain diffused light which is easily done when these screws are slaoked.

The structure shown in Fig. 3 differs from that above described in that the central portion 2 of the lamp body is spherical instead of flat, the center of the sphere being preferable at the middle of the aperture 11 in the reflector .10. The plates 13 fand 14* are also spherical to fit this spherical end of the body and these plates are again drawn against the metal of the body by the screws 15. The aperture 3 through which the hub 17 extends and the aperture 16 through which the screws 15 extend are sufiiciently large to permit the rear end of the connector sleeve 4 to be moved in any direction to swing the light bulb 7 toward or from the axis of the reflector 10. In this second form, the center of curvature of the end 2* of the body is at the middle of the aperture 11 in the reflector, so the movements of the light .bulb will be opposite to the movements of the plug 5. For the same reason, the aperture 11 need be but little larger than the sleeve 4. The remaining details and the operation of this focusing device are similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

The details and proportions of the various parts of this focusing device may all be modifiedby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim 1. In a headlight, the combination of a cup-shaped body, a reflector therein, both having apertures central with the axis of the reflector, the body surrounding the aperture therein being spherical substantially central with the middle point of the aperture in the reflector, a pair of spherical members fitting the outside and inside of the spherical end of the body, means to press said members together with the spherical portion of the body between them, a connector sleeve extending through said apertures and adjustably mounted in one of said spherical members, and a light bulb mounted in the inner end of said sleeve, the diameter of the aperture in the body being suflicient to permit movement of the sleeve thereinto carry the light bulb toward and from the axis of the reflector.

2. In a headlight, the combination of a body having an aperture, a connector sleeve, extending into the body through said aperture, a pair of plates, one on each side of the body at said aperture, a coil spring attached' to one of said plates and surrounding said sleeve, said sleeve having a pin extending between the coils of the spring, and Ibneitns to frictionally secure the plates to the 3. In a headlight, the combination of a to one of said plates and surrounding said sleeve, said sleeve having a pin extending between the coils of the spring, said aperture in the body being larger than the sleeve to permit the sleeve to be moved around therein, and means to draw said plates toward each other.

5. In a headlight, the combination of a body having an aperture, a connector sleeve extending into the body through said aperture, a pair of plates, one on each side of the body at said aperture, a coil spring attached to one of said plates and surrounding said sleeve, said sleeve having a pin extending between the coils of the spring, and means to' frictionally secure the plates to the body comprising screws extending through said plates, said body having holes of suflicient size to permit the screws and the plates to move laterally with the sleeve.

6. In a headlight, the combination of a body having an aperture, a connector sleeve extending into the body and adapted to receive the baseof a light bulb, a coil spring surrounding said sleeve, and. means to attach one end of the spring to the body, the sleeve having a pin extending between the coils of the spring, said sleeve attaching means being frictionally held in position on said: body.

CHAS. E. GODLEY. 

